STRESS AND CONTROL IN THE PRISON CONTEXT
- Author
- MACKENZIE, DORIS LAYTON
- Physical Description
- 309 pages
- Additional Creators
- Pennsylvania State University
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- Summary
- The stress experienced by inmates incarcerated in five prisons was examined as a function of predictability, perceived control of events in prison and locus of control beliefs. The levels of reported helpless-type responses (anxiety, depression) and reactive-type responses (conflicts with inmates and guards) were used as indicators of stress. Results suggested that environmental predictability as measured by prior felony convictions and time served in prison was not important in predicting the level of stress reported by inmates. There was evidence of increases in reactive responses during the early period of incarceration but no changes were found over time in anxiety and depression. Perceived control of events and locus of control beliefs were significant in predicting the level of stress. Less control was associated with more helpless and more reactive stress.
The relationship between beliefs and stress varied as a function of the generality or specificity of the beliefs and the internal or external focus of the items. Factor analyses of the locus of control scales in Likert format revealed two factors, one based on internal beliefs, the other external beliefs. External beliefs may be related to beliefs about contingency while internal beliefs may reflect self-efficacy, and these different dimensions may have implications for behavior. Although both may be related to the degree of anxiety and depression expressed, contingency beliefs may be more important in predicting conflicts resulting from stress. Results were discussed in terms of the U-shaped adjustment hypothesis, the environmental incongruency hypothesis, the helplessness theory and the helplessness-reactance theory. - Other Subject(s)
- Dissertation Note
- Ph.D. The Pennsylvania State University 1983.
- Note
- Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 44-01, Section: B, page: 3610.
- Part Of
- Dissertation Abstracts International
44-01B
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